Developing A Heart Of Worship
By Samantha DePriest
Last school year our Lower School began a new initiative to help further cultivate a heart of worship in our students. Mrs. Sherry Randolph, Lower School principal, shared “I consider our third graders to be the leaders of our Lower School. I am excited to provide an opportunity where they can shine God’s light before others.” The Third Grade Worship Team is made up of students who have a desire to lead and perform at our Wednesday morning Chapel services on stage in front of their classmates.
New this school year Mrs. Leslie Cook, Lower School Academic Dean, is leading this group of amazing worship leaders in the making and has added several enhancements to the program. Mrs. Cook enjoys teaching and further developing students on how to lead the student body through worship and song. Also new this year is a practice session included once a week, during recess, where the third grade worship team learns that weeks songs and motions for the upcoming chapel. They perform two songs during chapel this school year, typically one upbeat praise song with choreographed moves and one worship song. Mrs. Cook shared that she does have a little help choreographing the motions from her own children, Riley (tenth grade) and Henry (eighth grade) who are both heavily involved in the Arts program at TCS and Legacy Theatre.
Parents have shared that their children can't wait to be in third grade to be a part of the worship team and teachers hear the excitement in the classroom from all the students about the anticipation of third grade worship team.
Third grade teacher Mrs. Courtney Gable shared, “Parents and teachers spend so much time talking about the Lord’s love with our students and children, it is incredible to see our third graders leading in an example of telling the Lord how much we love him, back. It is a gift to watch our students model worshiping our Savior for younger students. As a mama, seeing my daughter leading worship reminds me why we have our children at Trinity and why I am teaching here. The Lord is moving and working in and through our school and I am so thankful the eternal impact TCS is having on our family!”
Emily Gaylor is a TCS mom to third grade worship team leader John Paul and shares, “For years now, if you asked him what he wants to be when he grows up, he would say a worship pastor. As the upper classmen of the Lower Elementary school (3rd grade), those who choose to are given the opportunity to lead worship during the weekly Chapel service. We can’t thank Trinity Christian School enough for the many opportunities provided for him to follow his passions.”
Another third grade teacher Mrs. Janelle Akey shares, “What a blessing to see our students leading all of us in worship! If you only knew how excited the students get each week having this opportunity to lead and participate in this way. The students beam with joy even as they are being asked to rehearse for the worship set, and later can't wait to share with the class the words to the song, the new motions learned, and what the song means to them. I also believe they see this opportunity as a privilege and with honor. They seek to give Him praise and to make His glory known. As we would all agree, our God is so worthy of all our praise. This message is evident throughout our Chapel experiences and through the voices and hearts of our third grade students.”
Enhancements made to the worship team program this school year also include building our song library so that teachers in all grades may easily pull from a collection of songs to help connect students with scripture. All students are also learning and practicing motions during chapel which helps to tuck verses of scripture in their hearts. The introduction of songs before chapels also helps students and staff familiarize themselves with the songs to enhance their worship experience as well. The vision of the program is to continue building anticipation for chapel by raising up servant leaders both on stage and in the seats while developing hearts for worship.
